Simulated golf putting hole

ABSTRACT

An all-in-one putting green hole-shaft-flag is disclosed, and comprises a spike for embedding the device in the ground, an above ground cone attached to the spike, and a telescoping shaft for distance measurement attached to the cone. Preferably the cone is precisely sized in accordance with regulation golf hole and ball sizes. A coil spring connects the shaft to the cone to permit the shaft to be pressed parallel to the putting surface for measuring purposes. The cone has a base diameter of 3 1/4 inches and is made of a bell metal alloy so that it will ring when struck by a golf ball.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Henry Doherty 19B Byrne Court, Wayne, NJ. .07470 [21] Appl. No. 800,788 {22] Filed Feb. 19, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 31,1971

[54] SIMULATED GOLF PUTTING HOLE 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 273/177 R, 273/183 [51) Int. Cl A63b 57/00, A63b 69/36 [50] Field of Search....., 273/34, 176, 177, 183,178,179, 180

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 797,755 8/1905 Savage 273/34 R 951,649 3/1910 Matthews 173/34 R 979,313 12/1910 King et al 273/34 A Primary ExaminerGeorge .I. Marlo A!l0rneyPhilip H. Pohl ABSTRACT: An all-in-0ne putting green hole-shaft-flag is disclosed, and comprises a spike for embedding the device in the ground, an above ground cone attached to the spike, and a telescoping shaft for distance measurement attached to the cone. Preferably the cone is precisely sized in accordance with regulation golf hole and ball sizes. A coil spring connects the shaft to the cone to permit the shaft to be pressed parallel to the putting surface for measuring purposes. The cone has a base diameter of3 inches and is made ofa bell metal alloy so that it will ring when struck by a golf ball.

PATENTEU M1031 m1 3502.516

SHEET 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR AL? mad 7.

PATENTEI] AUBBI I971 8,602,516

sum 2 0r 2 F qf- INVENTOR:

SIMULATED GOLF PUTTING HOLE This invention relates to the game of golf, in particular to putting, and especially to a new hole to be used in Lawn Golf such as putting on the lawn of a home.

The skill and enjoyment in putting in golf has not been adapted to the lawn of a homeowner because no variation of the hole has heretofore been devised to avoid digging holes into the lawn and yet, at the same time, to reflect the exactitude in putting that must be attained. In addition, holes dug in fixed positions into the lawn would cause a pattern of wear in the lawn by players walking from hole to hole, whereas it should be possible to relocate the holes frequently and easily both to prevent lawn damage and to provide interesting variation in play.

It is a primary object of this invention to answer this problem and to make putting on a home lawn surface a matter of skill and a source of entertainment, whether played as a diversion by oneself or as a game in competition with others.

A further important object of this invention is to avoid having holes dug into the lawn by having the holes above ground in the form of cones, simulating in their precise design and measurements the purpose and the action of the regulation holes, or cups, on golf course greens.

Another object of this invention is elimination of the hole, or cup, in the ground so that the golf ball does not have to be reached down for and picked out of the hole.

It is also an object of this invention to have the hole ring like a bell when struck by the golf ball and to have it deflect the ball, because of its shape, and slow down its momentum.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shaft for the flag, or pennant, in two telescoping sections so that its varied height (length) will be used as a measuring device to determine how far the golf ball rolled after striking the hole-this distance indicating whether or not the ball ended up in the hole or was putted too hard and passed over and beyond it.

Still another object of this invention is'provision of a spring located in the shaft above the hole" so that the shaft can be pressed parallel to the lawn to measure the distance from the hole" to where the putted ball rolled to rest.

Another object of the invention is the use of a projection on the shaft of the flag so that the shaft can be depressed by the head of the putter to measure the distance of the ball at rest from the hole without the player having to bend over and press the shaft down by hand.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a spike as a continuation of the shaft to anchor the shaft firmly into the lawn and to hold the hole" in place when the shaft is pressed horizontally for measuring purposes.

Another important object of the invention is provision of a scale on the extension section of the telescoping shaft indicating from the shortest height (length) for a long-cut lawn, or slow surface to maximum height (length) for a short-cut lawn, or fast surface.

A further object of the invention is attachment of remova ble pennants in varied colors, with numerals thereon, to indicate a series of holes such as would exist on a series of greens of a golf course.

Other objects will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

For full enjoyment of the sport and the game that this invention provides, a well-cared-for lawn should be used as the putting green, free of bumps and with the grass cut from 1 to lr inches, and no more than 2 inches, in height. The measurement settings of the shaft are intended to give corresponding exactness at these cutting heights to the play on an average golf course green.

In the play of Lawn Golf a player putts a golf ball to hit the hole." If the ball hits the hole" and then stops within the length of the shaft away from it, the rule of the game is that the player sinks the putt. If the ball hits the hole but rolls away further than the length of the shaft, however, the rule of the game is that the player does not hole out and must putt again.

Briefly, this invention comprises an all-in-one putting green hole-shaft-flag, having a spike to be embedded in the lawn, an aboveground cone as the hole" and a telescoping shaft as a measuring hole,"The hole, or cone, has precise measurements based on the 4%-inch diameter of a regulation golf course'hole and the l.68-inch diameter of an U.S. regulation golf ball.

In order to facilitate a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments of the invention diagrammatically, by way of example, and with illustrative rather than any limitative intent.

In the drawing:

F IG. 1 is a drawing in one-quarter scale of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective showing in full scale of the complete bottom part of the invention, including a part of the lower section of the shaft.

FIG. 3 is a showing in one-half scale of the upper section of the two sections'of the telescoping shaft, including the top part of the lower section.

FIG. 4 illustrates in full scale the action of a golf ball striking the hole.

FIG. 5 illustrates in one-quarter scale how the shaft is used as a measuring device from the hole to the arrested golf ball.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like elements are denoted by identical reference numerals, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hole 10 is shown as a cone, full face in both drawings. It is perforated with occasional l/ 16-inch holes to let through light and air so that the grass beneath will not suffer from trapped heat caused by the sun. It is cast of a bell metal alloy so that it will ring like a bell when struck by a golf ball.

The metal hole 10 hangs fixedly from the bottom of a 'nylon collar 11 clamped to the solid shaft 12. The hole has a base diameter of 3% inches and the outside angle between it and true level is 128. The nylon collar 11 tapers at 128 with the hole, being an extension of the metal hole, and is fiveeighths inch long vertically. The vertical length of the collar and hole together is 1 /3 inches.

The shaft below the hole extends into a 5-inch long spike 13 which is flared into four edges for 1 /2 inches at its bottom. It is the same Ai-inch solid thickness as the shaft. This spike is to be pushed into the lawn' by hand pressure from the nylon collar 11. It is pushed down until the rim of the hole is the same distance below the top level of the grass that the golf ball sinks down into it. This distance is approximately one-fourth inch below the top of the grass of an average lawn when it is cut 1 inch long. For longer cut grass the rim should be set lower.

The shaft 12 projects above the top of the fhole l0 and nylon collar 11 for 1 inch where there is fastened a nylon disc 14, seven-eighths inch in diameter by one-fourth inch in thickness. This disc is used to pull the spike from the lawn by placing the forefinger and middle finger under it and on either side of the shaft and then pulling upwards.

Above the disc 14 the shaft is fastened to a light, 2-inch long, tapered spring 15 which enables the shaft 16A and 168 above it to be pressed parallel to the lawn and brings the shaft upright again when pressure is removed. The spring thus enables the telescoping nature of the shaft 16A and 163 to be used as a measuring device to determine the distance from the hole 10 to the golf ball after it has struck the hole" and come to rest. The spring is steel, chrome-plated.

The spring is firmly attached to the lower telescoping section 16A of the shaft. This section is tubular and into it slides the upper section 168. It is three-eighths inch in diameter and is 6 inches long from the spring 15 to its top.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower telescoping section 16A of the shaft is reinforced at its exterior top by a 2-inch long sleeve 17 with a protruding rim 18. This rim 18 is at the top of the sleeve 17 and measures one-fourth inch in thickness and protrudes three-eighths inch out around the sleeve. The reinforcing purpose of the sleeve is to withstand repeated scraping pressure of putters pressing the shaft parallel to the lawn and the strong rim is to catch and hold putters from sliding upward on to the second, top, section 16B of the shaft.

The second section 16B of the shaft is inches long, of which the bottom 5% inches telescopes into the lower section, giving the entire shaft from lawn level to the top a length which can vary between 16 /2 inches when telescoped and 21% inches when extended.

when the top section 16B is fully extended, one-half inch remains locked in the lower section 16A by pinched construction of the tubing, giving the shaft added strength at this junction. At this point 19 on the top section, the letter F for Fast is stamped into the shaft and this is the setting for the length of the shaft (21% inches) when the lawn is cut at approximately 1 inch, or less, in height.

Halfway up 19 the telescoping part of the second section 168, there is stamped the letter M-for Mediumwhich is the half-telescoped setting (at 19 inches long) for lawns cut approximately 1% inches long. At the top 19 of the telescoping part is stamped the letter Sfor Slow-which is the fully telescoped setting (at 16% inches long) for lawns cut 2 inches, or more, in height.

The next 4 inches of the top section provides attachment for the flag, or pennant, 22. The shaft has two right angle hooks projecting out one-fourth inch, 4 inches apart. The flag is hung on the hooks by A-inch outside-diameter plastic rings 21. The hooks can be bent back to the shaft to keep the flag on securely. The flag is made of plastic, colored red or blue, with numerals in contrasting colors.

The top section 16B of the shaft protrudes one-half inch above the flag and is then topped by a simulated golf ball 23 which is one-half inch in diameter. This plastic ball can be painted with white fluorescent paint so that it will mark the position of a shaft at night in darkness to prevent people walking into it.

The solid shaft 12 with its spike 13, the two telescoping sections of the shaft 16A and 168, the sleeve 17 and the rim 18 can be made of aluminum so that the unit will be rustproof and can be left outdoors on a lawn in all kinds of weather.

Referring to FIG. 4, the action of a golf ball both in a nearmiss and in striking the hole" is illustrated. The ball 24, left of the hole, is shown as it would roll at the edge ofa regulation golf course hole, which is 4% inches in diameter. At this position, shown by numbers 25 at each side of the hole and 4% inches apart, the ball misses hitting the hole as it would miss dropping into a regulation hole.

The ball 26, right of the hole," is shown striking the hole, rolling up on it and being deflected from it. In dotted shape 26A the same ball is shown as it is about to strike the hole," or drop into a regulation hole provided it were not hit too hard.

Referring to FIG. 5, a golf putter club 27 is shown having pressed the shaft of the hole down and holding it there to measure if the golf ball 28 is within reach of the shaft end. The illustration shows an extended telescoping shaft for use with grass cut 1 inch high and it shows that the ball is measured as lying less than the length of the shaft away from the hole? a putt that has been sunk, provided the ball has hit the hole."

The invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and changes in detail. For example, a ball joint instead of the spring could be used. Also, as a measuring device, a solid (nontelescoping) shaft marked at corresponding lengths SLOW, MEDIUM and FAST could be used instead of a twosection, telescoping shaft. In addition, a three-pronged spike with thin tines instead of a single heavy spike could be used to seat the shaft to the lawn.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction, design and operation shown and described herein, as modifications within the scope of the appended claims which do not involve a departure from the spirit of the invention nor a sacrifice of any of the advantages thereof, may occur to workers in this field.

I claim:

1. A golf unit suitable for lawn putting, said unit comprising a cone-shaped hole having a base for resting on the lawn,

spike means attached to and extending down from the base of said hole for insertion into the lawn,

flexible connecting means connected to the cone-shaped hole" at the top thereof, and an extensible shaft connected to said flexible connecting means, whereby said shaft may be pressed parallel to the lawn, said extensible shaft being adjusted to the position of a golf ball to measure the distance of the ball from the hole.

2. The unit of claim 1 which additionally comprises a collar mounted intermediate said cone-shaped hole" and said flexible connecting means, said collar serving to aid in pulling the spike means from the lawn.

3. The unit of claim 1 wherein said cone-shaped hole comprises ringing means responsively ringing on contact with a moving golf ball.

4. The unit of claim 1 herein said extensible shaft additionally comprises a plurality of spaced markings indicative of distance from the hole.

5. A golf unit suitable for lawn putting, said unit comprising a cone-shaped hole having a base for resting on the lawn,

spike means attached to and extending down from the base of said hole for insertion into the lawn,

flexible connecting means connected to the cone-shaped hole at the top thereof, and

a shaft connected to said flexible connecting means,

whereby said shaft may be pressed parallel to the lawn, said shaft having a plurality of space markings thereon indicative of distance from said hole."

6. The unit of claim 5 which additionally comprises a collar mounted intermediate said cone-shaped "hole" and said flexible connecting means, said collar serving to aid in pulling the spike means from the lawn.

7. The unit of claim 5 wherein said cone-shaped hole comprises ringing means responsively ringing on contact with a moving golf ball.

8. The unit of claim 6 wherein said shaft comprises a lower sleeve section connected to said flexible connecting means, and an upper telescoping solid shaft extensible inserted in said sleeve section.

9. The unit of claim 8 where said cone-shaped hole has a diameter of 3%. inches at its base and an angle of 128 between the base and the side of said cone-shaped hole," said dimensions thereby simulating the size of an American golf hole in relation to a golf ball resting on the lawn.

10. The unit of claim 8 wherein said flexible connecting means is a spring.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0. 3,602,516 Dated August 31 1971 Inventor(s) Henry DOherty It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 43, "l-l/3 inches." should read 1-7/8 inches.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A golf unit suitable for lawn putting, said unit comprising a cone-shaped ''''hole'''' having a base for resting on the lawn, spike means attached to and extending down from the base of said ''''hole'''' for insertion into the lawn, flexible connecting means connected to the cone-shaped ''''hole'''' at the top thereof, and an extensible shaft connected to said flexible connecting means, whereby said shaft may be pressed parallel to the lawn, said extensible shaft being adjusted to the position of a golf ball to measure the distance of the ball from the ''''hole.''''
 2. The unit of claim 1 which additionally comprises a collar mounted intermediate said cone-shaped ''''hole'''' and said flexible connecting means, said collar serving to aid in pulling the spike means from the lawn.
 3. The unit of claim 1 wherein said cone-shaped ''''hole'''' comprises ringing means responsively ringing on contact with a moving golf ball.
 4. The unit of claim 1 herein said extensible shaft additionally comprises a plurality of spaced markings indicative of distance from the ''''hole.''''
 5. A golf unit suitable for lawn putting, said unit comprising a cone-shaped ''''hole'''' having a base for resting on the lawn, spike means attached to and extending down from the base of said ''''hole'''' for insertion into the lawn, flexible connecting means connected to the cone-shaped ''''hole'''' at the top thereof, and a shaft connected to said flexible connecting means, whereby said shaft may be pressed parallel to the lawn, said shaft having a plurality of space markings thereon indicative of distance from said ''''hole.''''
 6. The unit of claim 5 which additionally comprises a collar mounted intermediate said cone-shaped ''''hole'''' and said flexible connecting means, said collar serving to aid in pulling the spike means from the lawn.
 7. The unit of claim 5 wherein said cone-shaped ''''hole'''' comprises ringing means responsively ringing on contact with a moving golf ball.
 8. The unit of claim 6 wherein said shaft comprises a lower sleeve section connected to said flexible connecting means, and an upper telescoping solid shaft extensible inserted in said sleeve section.
 9. The unit of claim 8 where said cone-shaped ''''hole'''' has a diameter of 3 1/4 inches at its base and an angle of 128* between the base and the side of said cone-shaped ''''hole,'''' said dimensions thereby simulating the size of an American golf hole in relation to a golf ball resting on the lawn.
 10. The unit of claim 8 wherein said flexible connecting means is a spring. 